THIS INSTRUMENT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE MOUNTAINEER II BACKPACKER FIDDLE (i.e. You can no longer buy it!). See the listing for the NEW Mountaineer II Backpacker Fiddle.

The Rickert Mountaineer Backpacker Fiddle is a really skinny (but full 4/4 length) travel fiddle that is extremely durable for the most punishing environments. The Mountaineer Backpacker Fiddle, formerly offered only as a kit is now only available as a completed instrument. The Mountaineers is designed to accommodate a Wolf center-mount chin rest and a new Adjustable Shoulder Rest by Don Rickert Design Lutherie. The instrument is just 2" wide and is standard 4/4 length (body just under 14" and total length about 23").

The Mountaineer Backpacker Fiddle is designed to accommodate a Wolf center-mount chin rest and a new Adjustable Shoulder Rest by Don Rickert Design. The instrument is just 2" wide and is standard 4/4 length (body just under 14" and total length about 23"). It is intended to be played with a full-size bow; however, there is nothing to stop one from using a short bow...it just won't sound as good and the player will develop bad bowing habits. Furthermore, the best new carbon fiber bows are only available in 4/4 size.

Does the Rickert Mountaineer Backpacker Fiddle sound as good as the Adventurer II or Neil Gow Pochette?: While the Mountaineer sounds amazingly good for a such a small instrument, no travel violin in the world compares to the sound of an Adventurer II or a Neil Gow Pochette, both of which have full-length bass bars and sound posts.

The Mountaineer utilizes an innovative internal bracing to perform the functions of the bass bar and the sound post. The advantage is that the Mountaineer can withstand shock and extreme temperatures without the risk of the bassbar becoming unglued or the sound post falling out of place.